Chapter 383


    Watching Magnus’ figure quickly vanish into the night, James burst through the door in hot pursuit. No


    way could he let Magnus walk into danger alone; he had to find Natalia, and fast!


    In a frenzy, James stormed out, searching the streets for any sign of Natalia, but though the town was


    small, Natalia was like a needle in a haystack. Sweat poured down James’ forehead, but there was no


    trace of her.


    Just as despair was about to take hold, James’ sharp eyes caught sight of Natalia at the crossroads


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    ahead. “Natalia! Natalia!” He shouted at the top of his lungs.


    Natalia was frantic, questioning the crowd about Jonas’ whereabouts, oblivious to James’ calls. James


    bolted toward her, quickly reaching her side and grabbing her hand. “Natalia, we’ve got to move, now!”


    Confusion clouded Natalia’s eyes. “What’s going on, James? Where are you taking me?”


    With no time for exnations, James rushed her along. "Juste with me. It''s Lucius—he''s taken


    Jonas!"


    "What?" Natalia gasped. The words were like ice water down her spine. "Lucius? What is he


    nning?!"


    "I don''t know, but he''s demanding a ransom of a hundred million bucks from Magnus. He wants him to


    go to the docks alone—no cops, no backup," James rattled off. "Magnus is headed there right now, but


    Lucius is a desperate man. It''s not safe for Magnus to go alone."


    Panic-stricken, Natalia stammered, "What do we do? Where do we even start looking?"


    "Harbor Bay docks, let''s go to my car!" James pointed to his vehicle. "We''ll follow them there. We can''t


    let Magnus walk into a trap, and we''ve got to save Jonas."


    "All right, let''s go," Natalia said, turning to Hector, who had joined her in the search. "Hector, maybe you


    should head back. James and I will handle it."


    "Why should I?" Hector protested. "I want to help find Jonas as much as you do, Natalia. Don''t you


    consider me family?"


    Sensing the resolve in Hector''s eyes, Natalia relented, "Fine, but you must be careful. You know Lucius


    is unpredictable and capable of anything."


    "I''m not afraid." Hector said, his gaze fierce. "I care about Jonas. I''d give anything to save him,


    including my life."


    Natalia was touched by Hector''s sincerity, feeling the weight of her past neglect. "Hector, I..."


    "Don''t," Hector stopped her. "Your battles are mine, Natalia. Whatever it takes, I''m in."


    "Enough chit-chat, let''s go, or we''re really going to be toote," James interjected impatiently, annoyed


    by Hector''s sweet talk at such a dire time.


    The trio sped off in James'' car towards Harbor Bay docks.


    Meanwhile, Magnus had arrived at the docks alone, as Lucius had instructed. It was a deste spot,


    once bustling but now littered with derelict fishing boats. As Magnus approached, a figure leaped from


    the shadows and knocked him to the ground.


    "Ha, you are here, Magnus," Lucius gloated, his face twisted with vengeance. "Look at you now! I''m the


    king here, and you''re nothing but a groveling dog at my feet!"


    Magnus spat out blood, ring at Lucius. "Cut the crap. Where''s my son?"


    Lucius pointed to a towering fishing boat, where a frail figure was tied to the mast, swaying precariously


    in the wind. "There''s your precious son, dangling like bait."


    Magnus'' blood ran cold at the sight of Jonas teetering over the ocean. His voice wasced with fury,


    "You monster! How could you do that to Jonas. He''s your nephew!"


    "Shut up!" Lucius charged, his fists flying. "The day you sent me to jail, I no longer cared for our family.


    Who are you to lecture me?"


    Magnus dodged Lucius'' blow, shouting back, "You brought this on yourself! You nearly bankrupted the


    Lucius, reminded of his prison torment, grew more agitated. "Mercy? You should''ve been the one


    behind bars, not me!"


    He lunged at Magnus again. "Give me the money or prepare to bury your son—with the bombs I''ve


    strapped to him!"


    "I want cash! Cash!" Lucius refused to even nce at the phone. The veins in his neck bulged as he


    shrieked.


    Lucius furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, and realized Magnus made sense. He snatched the


    phone from Magnus'' hand. "Fine, this also saves me a lot of trouble."


    He bowed his head and checked the ount seriously. Indeed, there was a hundred million dors.